5 Surprising Facts About Rudders

Rudders play an important role in aviation. Located on the tail assembly of airplanes, they act as a primary flight control surface. Pilots can engage the rudders to change the airplane’s yaw. Even if you’re familiar with the general purpose … Read More

What Are Cowling Safety Pins?

Aircraft cowlings must be secured so that they don’t open or fall off during flight. Most jet-engine airplanes, of course, have removable coverings over their engines. Known as cowlings, they reduce drag, improve airflow and promote cooling. If you own … Read More

The Compass: An Instrumental Navigation Tool

When thinking of navigation tools commonly found in airplanes, a compass probably isn’t at the top of your list. After all, most airplanes are equipped with more advanced electronic navigation tools, such as heading indicators, Inertial Navigation System (INS) and … Read More

6 Facts About Aerospace Fasteners

You can’t build an airplane without fasteners. A typical commercial airliner has hundreds of thousands of individual parts. Fasteners are responsible for holding these parts together and, thus, maintaining the airplane’s structural integrity. In this post, we’re going to reveal … Read More

What Are Scuff Hand Pads?

Sandpaper isn’t the only abrasive finishing tool with which you can use to remove surface imperfections. There are other finishing tools available, such as scuff hand pads. Developed by 3M, scuff hand pads are highly versatile. Here’s everything you need … Read More

5 Facts About Aerospace O-Rings

O-rings play an important role in the aerospace manufacturing industry. Also known as toric joints — a reference to their circular torus shape — they are designed to seal the spaces around hoses and other parts. Connection points for hoses … Read More

Tailstrike Prevention Measures Explained

Ever wonder how airplanes prevent trailstrikes? Tailstrikes are a concern for pilots. As the name suggests, they involve the tail of an airplane — specifically the underside of the tail or rear fuselage — striking the runway. Nearly all types … Read More

The Beginner’s Guide to Hose and Tube Cutters

Hoses and tubes are commonly used in airplanes. There are pneumatic and hydraulic hoses, for instance. The former carries pressurized air, whereas the latter carries pressure liquid. Airplanes use these hoses in various systems, such as landing gear and engine … Read More

What Is Adverse Yaw and What Causes It?

Have you heard of adverse yaw? Yaw, of course, is one of the three axes of flight. It represents the oscillation or rotation of an object, such as an airplane, around a vertical axis. Pilots can control the airplane’s yaw … Read More